Door closer



Det. 24, 1940. R s POTTER 2,226,257.

Doon CLOSER Filed NOV. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. S. POTTER DOOR CLOSER Dec. 24, 19,40.

Filed NOV. 2. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MMV I ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1940. R. s. POTTER DOOR CLOSER Filed Nov. 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @mmm INVENTOR Ji 3PM,

ATTORNEY ClOSeI.

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 DOOR CLOSER Robert S. Potter, Stamford, Conn., assigner to The Yale a Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 2, 1939, Serial No. 302,510

24 Claims.

On July 1, 1939, I filed in the Patent Oillce an application for a patent on a door closer which now bears' the Patent Oillce Serial No. 282,381. The door closer disclosed in my application is of a cylindrical type well known in the art, the novelty in my application being the particular mechanism which I have conceived and reduced to practice and whereby my cylindrical door closer is rendered desirable.

I have'now conceived `and reduced to practice means whereby the cylindrical door closer oi' my application may be utilized as a concealed door A modified form of the said means, and which I shall hereinafter describe, may be uti lized for mounting my cylindrical door closer in such a manner as to eliminate the need for a type of bracket which is now used in certain installations, and which requires the mounting of the door closer within the doorway and in obstructing relation thereto.

As those skilled in the art will well appreciate. concealed door closers mounted in the frame of a door to be controlled by the closer, are old and well known in this art. However, such concealed door closers are usually of a very bulky type, are generally difficult to adjust andto maintain in adjustment, and have for one reason or another, been unsuccessful commercially, so that practically all installations of door closers are now of the outside type. This condition exists in spite of the fact that everyone recognizes that concealed door closers are more desirable from ,fthe viewpoint of beauty, especially in homes and other structures in which a door closer casing of the type well known in the art is out of keeping with the general architectural design.

While my invention is particularly adapted for utilization with the door closer that I have described in my application supra, it is usable with practically `any type of cylindrical door closer known in the art. Conceivably, it is usable with other and bulkier types of door closers; but, as,

will be understood after a reading of the specification which follows, it is best adapted for use with a cylindrical type of door closer, especially in the lstandard type of door frame in which size is an important consideration.

In brief, my invention comprises means for mounting a door closer, such as that of my applcation supra, so that the operating shaft thereof is maintained against rotation while the casing is mounted for rotation as the door opens. In this way, while I apparently reverse the operation of the parts of my door closer, I do not in any way affect the operation of the parts, since -within .the

closer, the relative movement of the parts is exactly the same as it is in the door closer of my application. Since, also, through my invention the door closer is mounted in its natural vertical position with the valves and other mechanism in their preferred relation, and with the solid cast bottom of the closer in its normal position, I retain all the various advantages of the door closer of my earlier application.

A further feature of importance is the fact that 1o my assignee, The Yale 8: Towne Manufacturing Company, is enabled to manufacture a standard line of door closers, and by but slight modication, may utilize some of those closers as concealed door closers and some as ordinary exposed 16 door closers of the type with which everyone is familiar. That this is an extremely important advantage from a commercial viewpoint will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

I have previously mentioned a modification of 20 my invention, indicating that thereby I eliminate the need for a type of bracket used for mounting the ordinary door closer on the door frame, as is disclosed in the Blount Patent No. 458,357. Through the utilization of a modified form of my contribution to the art, I may mount my cylindrical door closer on the frame of the door in its normal vertical position, and entirely out of the doorway. By connecting the casing of the door closer to the door itself, I readily control the door, as is required in this art, and as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

For a description of my invention and the said modification thereof, I shall refer to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my 35 door closer mounted in concealed relation to the door frame and connected to the door which it is to control. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of my door closer and mounting means showing the closer held in operating position by the mounting means. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the internal parts of the door closer with the parts shown in perspective. Fig. 4 is an elevation and partial section of the bracket on which my door closer is mounted and showing the spring and valve adjusting means. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively views taken along lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4, with certain of the parts cut away to show operating mechanism. Fig. '7 is a perspective exploded view of the spring and valve adjusting parts of my invention. Fig. 8 is an elevation and partial section through a doorway showing the mounting of my door closer so as to eliminate the use of the bracket disclosed in the Blount patent. Fig. 9 is a section taken along linesv 9--9 55 of Fig. 8. Fig. is a view taken through the door frame of Fig. 8 looking downwardlythereon and showing the relation of the door closer and the mounting means relatively thereto.

Before venturing into a description of my invention, it may be well to indicate that because the door closer shown herein is identical in operation to the door closer of my application supra, and because it is merely typical of a type of door closer for which my invention is adapted, I do not consider it necessary to describe in detail once again that door closer and its operation. Rather, I shall merely describe generally the construction and operation of the door closer, while pointing out specifically the means whereby it is utilized for the particular purposes of my invention. Those desiring a more detailed description of my actual door closer may have access to the description of my application supra.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show in Fig. 1 a door frame I6 and a door II. The door II has a lever I2 secured thereto, this lever being pivoted at I3 to a further lever i4 extending from a door closer assembly I5 which is secured within the door frame Il, with preferably nothing more than the base plate I6 thereof exposed.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that the base plate I6 is of rectangular form and has extending therefrom a pair of spaced vertical plates I1 and I8 which are welded to the plate I6 along lines I3. A top plate is secured by a series of screws 2i to the plates I1 and I8. Naturally, the plates I6, I1, I8 and 26 which together comprise the mounting member for my door closer, may be varied, the particular fonn shown being merely exemplary.

The casing of my door closer is designated by reference numeral 22, and is preferably in the form of a cylindrical casting open at the top. The cylindrical casting 22 is the very same casting which is utilized as part of the door closer of my application supra. For adapting this casting for use in this invention, I apply thereto, through screws 23, a bearing member 24 having a downwardly depending lug 25. 'I'he bearing member 24 cooperates with a. ball bearing 28 supported on plate I6, for mounting the casing 22 for rotation on a vertical axis, which preferably, is also the axis of its operating shaft 21. This operating shaft 21, which is preferably centrally located in casing 22, is splined as at 28 to the upper plate 20 so that it is maintained against any rotation whatsoever relatively to the mounting member.

The lug of the bearing member 24 is splined at 29 to the arm I4, which was earlier described as pivoted at I3 to the arm I2 connected to the door II. It is therefore seen that upon opening of the door II, the arms I2 and I4 will rotate the door closer casing 22 through the lug 25 and bearing member 24, this rotation being relative to the xed central operating shaft 21. So far as the mechanism of the door closer is concerned, it is obvious that the results will be exactly the same as though the casing were maintained stationary as in my application supra, and the central operating shaft 21 were rotated relatively to the casing upon opening of the door.

I shall now refer to Figs. 2 and 3 to describe just what happens within the door closer casing when the door is opened, and the manner in which the door is thereafter closed by the door closer. As indicated earlier, this description will be rather general since the internal construction of the door closer and its operation aredescribed in detail in my earlier application.

The central operating shaft 21` of my door closer carries a piston 38 through a pin 3i secured thereto. A disk 32 threaded to the casing as at 33, separates the upper portion of the casing from the lower portion of the casing and maintains in position a plate 34, the under surface of which forms the upper surface of a compression chamber 36 in which the piston 30 operates.

Extending from a surface of the chamber 35 is a pin 36 which lies within a slot 31 of a movable abutment 38. The abutment 38 is movable relatively to the pin 36 so as to bring one or the other of the ends of 'the slot 31 in engagement with the pin 36, thereby varying the hand of the closer, all as is described in my earlier application. A spring pressed plunger, which is not shown, lies within the bore 33 of the abutment and extends into one or the other of a pair of shallowdepressions 40 for yieldingly maintaining the abutment 38 in one of its opposite positions.

The abutment 38 is formed with a bore 4I which terminates in a narrower bore 42, a ball 43 resting within the bore 4I and functioning through gravity, as will be explained hereinafter. A pair of slots 44 and 45 are formed in the bottom surface of the compression chamber 35 for cooperating with the abutment 38, as will be indicated. 'I'he plate 34, as is best shown in Fig. 3, is formed with slots 46, 41 and 48, and a bore 49, functioning as will be described.

When the casing 22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 50 in Fig. 3 upon opening of the door, and therefore relatively to the fixed central operating shaft 21 and its piston 30, it is obvious that the abutment 38 will move integrally therewith. In the position of the parts in Fig. 3, the slot 44 willl be in communication with the lower end of the bore 42 of the abutment, and the uid between the surface a of the piston and the abutment will flow through the slot 44 up the bore 42 lifting ball valve 43 oi its seat, through bore 4I, through slot 48 of plate 34, and to the other side of the abutment.

When .the .door is released for closing movement under the action of the door closing spring, which has not yet been describedfthe abutment 38 will move with the casing 22 ina direction reverse to the arrow 50, carrying the abutment 38 toward the surface 30h of the piston 30. In

the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the slot 45 is entirely covered by the abutment 38, and therefore fluid cannot flow therethrough. Similarly, fluid cannot flow through the slot 48 in the disk 34 because the ball valve 43 will be seated, y obstructing any movement of uid through the bores 4| and 42. Therefore, fluid can flow only through a main valve bore shown at 5I in Figs. 2 and 3, and through one or the other of the latching valve bores 52, shown only in Fig. 2. By controlling the speed of ow through the valve bores 5I and 52, the speed of the closing of the door will be controlled, as is quite apparent, and as is fully explained in my application supra.

It may be well to indicate that the flow of fluid through bore 5I is controlled by a sleeve 53 in screw threaded relation to the threaded portion 54 of a valve stem 55 which extends upwardly through central shaft 21, and through the plate 26 of the mounting member for a purpose to be indicated presently. The bores 52 are adjusted by a cylindrical member 56 which is pinned to the valve stem 55 for movement integrally therewith. I shall hereinafter explain how I rotate the valve stem 55 for adjusting the several valves.

In my application supra, I have described how my 'door closer may be readily reversed, and I have also indicated other advantages thereof, including means for maintaining the pressure chamber 25 always in communication with a reservoir. I do not believe it is necessary to explain such further features of my closer in this application, especially in view of the fact that I deem it within the scope of my invention to utilize many, if not all, of the cylindrical and possibly other types of closers of the prior art, depending upon the space available.

Referring now again to Fig. .2, I shall describe the mounting of the door closer spring 51 and the winding thereof by the rotation of the casing incidental to the opening of the door, and the functioning of the spring 51 incidental to the closing of the door. The casing 22 is grooved as at 58, and a pair of lugs 58 of the spring 51 fit into the groove 58 so that as the casing rotates, it carries the lugs therewith, tending to wind the spring, provided the other end thereof is maintained xed. The said other end of the spring terminates in an integral flange-like portion 50 which fits into a groove 6| of a spring winder sleeve 62 secured about the central shaft 21. This spring Winder 62 projects through a cap plate 11 which closes the open end of the door closer casing 22, and terminates in a flange 63. It may be well to indicate that the spring'winder 62 serves as a bearing for the upper end of thecentral operating shaft 21.

Secured to the ilange 63 of the spring winder 62 is a gear 64, which in turn is'engaged by thel teeth of a pinion 65, best shown in Fig. 7. The pinion 65 is pinned to a vertical shaft 66, which in turn is secured to a sleeve 61 extending from a ratchet 68 mounted for rotation relatively to the base plate I6 of the door closer mounting member. A slide piece 69 mounted on base plate I6 serves to lock the ratchet 66 in any adjusted position thereof relatively to the plate I6. It is obvious, therefore, that through the pinion 65 and gear 64, it is possible to adjust the spring tension so that in the closed position of the door, there will be a certain amount of spring pressure tending to maintain the door closed. It will be quite apparent, also, that the spring tension may be readily adjusted by moving slide piece 69 out of ratchet engaging position, and then rotating the said ratchet through its lug portion 10 until the desired spring tension is obtained; As is apparent from Fig. 1, lug 18 and slide 68 are always readily accessible.

In operation, upon opening movement of the door, the spring 51 is wound by the casing 22 through the lugs 59 relatively to the fixed central.' shaftv 21 and the fixed spring winder 62. When the door is released for closing, the spring will unwind, closing the door, a certain amount of the tension in the spring being maintained even in the close position of the door through the adjustment of the spring tension by the means described above.

As I indicated previously, the valve stem 55 extends upwardly through the central shaft 21, and then terminates in a portion 1| on which is secured a gear 12. 'I'his gear, as is best seen in Figs. 6 and "I, is in turn in contact with an idler gear 13, which is in engagement with a further gear 14 secured on the end of the shaft 15. The shaft 16 extends upwardly from the base plate i8 of the mounting member, its lower'end being in the formofa slotted head 16 capable of ready manipulation by a screw driver or other tool. It is obvious from Figs. 1, 4, 5 and "l, that when the door closer is within the frame i0, the base plate I6 of the mounting member being exposed, the headed end 16 of the valve adjusting mechanism as well as thev lug 18 of the spring adjusting mechanism, will beex'posed for ready manipulation. 'I'his makes it possible to readily adjust both the valve mechanism and the spring mechanism of the door closer.

It is now apparent that I am able to utilize in my concealed door closer assembly the door closer of my application supra, mounting the door closer in its usual vertical position, with the open end of the casing in its preferred position, and

`with the valve mechanism and other parts in.

their best operating relationship. This makes it possible to convert a door closer of the exposed type into a concealed door closer, while retaining all the advantages of the exposed type. i

Referring now to Figs. 8-10 inclusive, I shall describe that modification of my invention in which I mount the door closer of my earlier application in a manner to eliminate the usualtype of bracket described and illustrated in the Blount patent supra., In this modification, the door closer casing is designated by reference numeral 80, and to it is secured a bearing member 8| whereby the casing is mounted relatively to a bracket 82 in exactly the same manner asis'the casing in my first modification.

An arm 88 is secured to a lug 84 of the bearing 8i at one end, and is pivoted at 65 to a second arm 86, which is secured to the door 81. The bracket 82 isitself secured to the door frame 85. and has an upper plate 89 which is in splined relation to the central shaft 90, much in the same way as is the upper plate 20 of the mounting member of the rst modification.- A pawl 5| carried on a pawl pin 92 is in engagement with a ratchet 83 secured to an extension 84 of the spring Winder sleeve, much in the same way as the gear 64 is secured to the spring Winder sleeve 62 of the ilrst'modification.

Unlike the rst modification, a cap 85 is secured directly to the valve stem` 96 for adjusting the valve mechanism. Also, unlike the first modiication, the spring tension is, of course, adjusted directly by application of a suitable wrench to the y ratchet 83.

With the parts as described, it is obvious that opening movement of the door in the direction of the arrow 81 in Fig. 10, serves to rotate the casing to wind the spring in the same manner as in the first modification, release of the door allowing it to be closed under the influence of' the spring in the same way as in the first mod ification. The operation of my invention should now be clearly understood, it is thought.

I now claim:

l. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the type having a casing, a main shaft and means rotatable therewith for winding a door closer spring in said casing, and a piston movable with said shaft and against a liquid in said casing to slow down the closing action of the spring, means secured' to said casing for rotating said casing as the door to be controlled by said closer is opened, and means secured to said shaft for maintaining it against rotation.

2.` In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the type having a casing, I5

a main shaft and means rotatable therewith for winding a door closer spring in said casing. and a piston movable with said shaft and against a liquid in said casing to slow down the closing action of the spring, means securing said main shaft` and means to the frame of a door to be controlled by said closer and against rotation relativelyto'said fra-me, and means secured between said door and said door closer casing for rotating said casing relatively to said shaft as said door vis opened and thereafter closed.

3. In a combination of the class described. including a door closer of the standard type having a casing closed at its bottom, a main shaft extending through an opening atthe top of the casing.- a spring secured at one end relatively to thel casing and functionally relatively to the shaft at its. opposite end, and a piston movable by the` shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in'said casing toslow down the action of said spring. that advance in the art which comprises means securing the' shaft to the frame of a door to be controlled and against rotation, and means secured between said door closer casing and the door whereby to rotate said casini! relatively to said shaft as the door is opened and thereafter closed.

4. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing closed at its bottom, a central main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing. a spring secured at one end relatively 'to the casing and functionally relatively to the shaft atits opposite end, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a huid in said casing to slow down the action of said spring, that advance in the art which comprises means securing the central shaft to the frame of a door to be controlled and against rotation, means for securing said opposite end of the spring relatively to said frame, means mounting said casing for rotation relatively to said door frame and central shaft, and means secured between said door and said casing for rotating said casing relatively to said central shaft as the door is opened and thereafter closed.

5. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a central main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring secured at one end relatively to the casing and functionally relatively to the shaft -at its opposite end, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in said casing to slow down the action of said spring. that advance in the art which comprises means mounting said casing in vertical position on the frame of a door to be controlled and for rotation relatively to said door frame .on the axis of said central shaft, means securing the central shaft against rotation relatively to said door frame, means for securing said opposite end of the spring relatively to said frame, and means secured between said casing and door for rotating said casing on its mounting means and relatively to said central shaft as the door is opened and thereafter closed.

6. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing with an integrally cast bottom portion, a central main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring secured at one end relatively to the casing and functionally relatively to the shaft at its opposite end, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid .in said casing to slow masons? down' the action of said spring, that advance in the art which comprises means mounting said casing in vertical position on the frame of a door to be controlled and for rotation relatively to said door frame with its integrally cast bottom portion in its usual bottom position. means securing the central shaft against rotation relatively to said door frame, means for securing said opposite end of the spring relatively to said frame, and means secured between said casing and door for rotating said casing on its mounting means and relatively to said central shaft as the door is opened and thereafterclosed.

7. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a cylindrical casing with an integrally cast and closed bottom portion, a central main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing. a spring secured at one end relatively to the casing and functionally relatively to the shaft at its opposite end. and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in /said casing to slow down the action of said spring, that advance in the art which comprises a mounting member ilxed to the frame of a door to be controlled, means mounting said casing for rotation on said mounting member, means whereby said mounting member secures said central shaft against rotation and said opposite end of said spring against movement, and pivoted arms connecting the casing to said door for rotating said casing on said mounting member and relatively to said shaft as the door is opened and thereafter closed.

8. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing. a central shaft extending through an openingatthetopofthecaaing,aspringsecured.

at one end to said casing and at the other end tfunctionally relatively to said shaft, and a piston movable by the shaftv relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the acttion of said spring, a mounting member secured 'to the frame of the door which the closer is to control, a bearing for said casing on said mounting member and relatively tn which said casing is rotatable in the axis of said shaft, an abutment l'lug secured to said casing and extending downwardly therefrom in the axis of rotation of said casing, means on said mounting member securing said shaft against rotation and said other end ol said spring 4against movement, and means connecting said abutment lug to said door whereby opening of said door will rotate said casingto wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating said casing to close said door under the control of said piston and fluid.

9. In a combination of the class described in cluding a door closer of the standard type having a. casing formed with an integral cast bottom, a central shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring functionally secured between said casing and shaft, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the action of said spring, a mounting member secured within the frame of the door which the closer is to control, a bottom plate forming part of said mounting member and secured substantially flush with the inner surface of the door frame, a bearing for said casing on said mounting member bottom plate and relatively to which said casing is rotatable in the axis of said shaft, an abutment secured to the integral cast bottom of said casing and extending downwardly therefrom through said bottom plate, means on said mounting member securing said shaft against rotation and said spring for winding relatively to said casing, and means connecting said abutment to said door whereby opening of said door will rotate said casing to wind said spring, said spring thereafter closing said door under the control of said piston and fluid. y

10. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a main shaft extending through an 'opening at the top of the casing, a spring secured functionally between said casing and shaft, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the action of said spring, a mounting member secured within the frame of the door which said 'door closer is to control, means on said mounting member supporting said door closer casing for rotation while locking said shaft against rotation, a valve mechanism for said door closer including an adjusting shaft extending outwardly of said casing and within said door frame so as to be inaccessible, and means in mechanical connection with said adjusting shaft extending to a point on said mounting member accessible from the surface of said door frame.

11. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring secured relatively to said casing at one end and to a spring Winder rotatable with said shaft at its other end, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the action of said spring, a mounting member secured Within the frame of the door which said closer is to control and having an outer surface substantially flush with the inner surface of the door frame, means on said mounting member supporting said door closer casing for rotation while locking said shaft against rotation, and' means in mechanical connection with said spring Winder extending to said outer surface of said mounting member and adapted to secure said` Winder in a particular adjusted spring winding position.

12. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring functionally secured between said casing and shaft, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the action of said spring, a mounting member secured in the upper portion of the frame of the door which said door closer is to control and having a plate lying substantially flush with the inner surface of said frame, means on said mounting member supporting said casing for rotation, means on said mounting member securing said shaft against rotation and said spring for winding relatively to said casing, a portion of said casing extending through said plate, means connecting said casing portion to the door whereby opening of the door rotates said casing relatively to said shaft to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating said casing in a reverse direction under the control of said piston and fluid to close the door.

13. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a cylindrical casing, a central shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring functionally secured between said casing and shaft. and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the action of said spring, a mounting member secured in the upper portion of the frame of the door which said door closer is to control and having a base plate lying substantially flush with the inner surface of said frame, a bearing on said base plate supporting said casing for rotation on the axis of said shaft. meansA on said mounting member securing said central shaft against rotation and said spring for winding relatively to said casing. a downwardly ex-v tending lug secured to the bottom of the door closer casing and extending through an opening in the bearing of said base plate, means connecting said lug to the door whereby opening of the door rotates said casing relatively to said shaft to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating said casing in a reverse direction under ihe control of said piston and fluid to close the oor.

14. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring functionally secured between said casing and shaft, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a fluid in the casing to slow down the action of said spring, a mounting member secured in the upper portion of the frame of the door which said door closer is to control and having a plate lying substantially ush with the inner surface of said frame, means on said mounting member securing said shaft against rotation and said spring for winding relatively to said casing, means on said mounting member support- `ing said casing for rotation with a portion of said casing extending through said plate, means connecting said casing portion to the door whereby opening of the door rotates said casing relatively to said shaft to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating said casing in a reverse direction under the control of said piston and fluid to close the door, a valve mechanism for said d'oor closer including an adjusting shaft extending outwardly of said casing, and means accessible on the outer surface of said plate and in mechanical connection with said valve adjusting .shaft for moving said adjusting shaft.

15. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring winding device rotatable with said shaft, a spring secured between said casing and device, and a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a uid in the casing to slowadown the action of .said spring, a mounting member secured in the upper portion of the frame of the door which said door closer is to control and having a plate lying substantially flush with the inner surface of said frame, means on said mounting member securing said shaft against rotation, means on said mounting member supporting said casing for rotation with a portion of said -casing extending through said plate, means connecting said casing portion to the door whereby opening of the door rotates said casing relatively to said shaft to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating said casing in a reverse direction under the control of said piston and fluid to close the door, an adjusting means for said spring winding device whereby said device is held against rotation relatively to said mounting member, and means accessible on the outer surface of said plate and in mechanical connection with said adiusting means for moving said adjusting means.

16. In a door closer of the class described, a casing, a downwardly extending lug forming part of the bottom of said casing, mounting means securing said casing for rotation relatively to the frame of the door which said door closer is to control. and means connecting said casing lug to the door whereby movement of the door incidental to the opening and closing thereof is accompanied by rotation of said door closer casing relatively to said mounting means.

17. In a combination of the class described, a mounting member adapted for mounting in a door frame, a door closer casing rotatably mounted on said mounting member, a main shaft in said casing and extending outwardly therefrom, means whereby said shaft is fixed to said mounting member and against rotation, means extending from the door to be controlled by said door closer to said closer casing whereby opening and closing of said door rotates said door closer casing relatively to said mounting member and said main shaft, a spring in said casing secured at one end to said casing. and means securing the other end of said spring relatively to said mounting member whereby rotation of said casing by opening of said door winds said spring whereby to store power therein to close said door thereafter.

18. In a combination of the class described, a mounting member adapted for mounting in a door frame, a door closer casing rotatably mounted on said mounting member, a main shaft in said casing and extending outwardly therefrom. means whereby said shaft is fixed to said mount' ing memberfand against rotation, means extending from the door to be controlled by said door closer to said closer casing whereby opening and closing of said door rotates said door closer casing relatively to said mounting member and said main shaft, a spring in said casing secured at one end to said casing, means securing other end of said spring relatively to said mounting member whereby rotation of said casing by opening of said door winds said spring whereby to store power therein to close said door thereafter, l. piston in said door closer casing secured for movement with said shaft relatively to said casing as said casing is rotatedg uid in said casing, and valves for controlling the ow of fluid in said casing by movement of the piston relatively thereto.

19. A door closer adapted for mounting within a door frame comprising a mounting member secured on the door frame of the door to be controlled, a door closer casing of the usual type well known in the art mounted for rotation on said member, said door closer casing being of the class having therein a main shaft, a spring, and checking means including a piston movable with said shaft relatively to the casing. whereby the spring is wound by the/'opening of the door to be controlled by said closer so as to store energy through which the door is thereafter closed under the control of said checking means, means whereby said shaft is held against rotation by said mounting member, means whereby said spring is held at one end relatively to said-mounting member for winding when said casing is rotated on said mounting member, and means connecting said casing to the door to be controlled whereby the door is controlled through rotation of the casing relatively to the shaft rather than in the conventional way by rotation of the'shaft relatively to the casing.

20. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the type having a casing, a main shaft, a spring winding sleeve, a spring extending between said casing and said spring winding sleeve, a piston in said casing movable with said main shaft relatively to a fluid in said casing, valves controlling the movement of said fluid by said piston in said casing, a mounting member on the frame of the door to be controlled, means mounting said casing for rotation on said mounting member. means securing said shaft and said spring winding sleeve against rotation relatively to said mounting member, and means securing said casing to the door to be controlled for rotating the casing as the door is opened whereby to wind said spring, said spring thereaft rotating the casing to close the door under the control of said fluid.

2l. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the type having a casing, a main shaft, a spring winding device rotatable with said shaft relatively to the casing to wind a spring extending between said device and said casing, as the door to be controlled is opened, and a piston in said casing movable with said shaft against a liquid in said casing to slow down the closing action of the spring, a mounting member on the frame of the door to be controlled,

means mounting said casing for rotation on said mounting member, means securing said shaft against rotation relatively to said mounting member, adjustable means for securing said spring winding device against rotation relatively to said mounting member in any one of a series of rotated positions thereof depending on the initial tension to be developed in said spring, and means securing said casing to the door to be controlled for rotating the casing as the door is opened whereby to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating the casing to close the door under the control of said fluid.

22. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the type having a casing, a main shaft, a spring winding sleeve, a spring extending between said casing and said spring winding sleeve, a piston in said casing movable with said main shaft relatively to a fluid in said casing, valves controlling the movement of said fluid by said piston in said casing, a mounting member on the frame of the door to be controlled, means mounting said casing for rotation on said mounting member, means securing said shaft against rotation relatively to said mounting member, means on said mounting member for rotating said spring winding sleeve to impose initial tension on said spring, detent means for locking said spring winding sleeve against rotation relatively to said mounting member in any one of a series of rotated positions thereof depending on the initial tension to be developed in said spring, and means securing said casing to the door to be controlled for rotating the casing as the door is opened whereby to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating the asicng to close the door under the control of said 23. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the type having a casing, a main shaft, a spring winding device rotatable with said shaft relatively to the casing to wind a spring extending between said device and said casing, as the door to be controlled is opened, a piston movable with said shaft against a liquid in said casing to slow down the closing action ofthe spring, a mounting member on the frame of the door to be controlled, means securing said shaft and said spring winding device against rotation relatively to said mounting member, and means securing said casing to the door to be controlled for rotating the casing as the door is opened whereby to wind said spring, said spring thereafter rotating the casing to close the door under the control of said fluid.

24. In a combination of the class described including a door closer of the standard type having a casing, a main shaft extending through an opening at the top of the casing, a spring secured functionally between said casing and shaft, a piston movable by the shaft relatively to the casing and against a uid in the casingsto for rotation in a vertical axis with the said upper 5 end of the shaft secured against rotation, a bottom plate forming part of said mounting member and secured substantially flush with the inner surface of the door frame, valve mechanism for said closer including an adjusting shaft centrally 10 of said main shaft and extending outwardly of the upper end of said main shaft, a second adjusting shaft extending upwardly from said bottom plate and accessible for rotation at said bottom plate, and means of connection between said 15 second adjusting shaft and said first shaft.

ROBERT S. POTTER. 

